Hoover High Responds to Crash That Injured 5 Students

students got the chance to speak with the school’s crisis team when they arrived to school Monday. Superintendent Michael Gallina said the group of administrators and counselors were on hand to talk to students about the . Three students suffered serious injuries.

“They met (Sunday) afternoon and organized a crisis response for the opening of school today,” Gallina said Monday.

“The counselors were prepared for any students who would have come in right away wanting to seek out a listening ear or a comforting place, and then the counselors and administrators were ready to give factual information to those who were simply needing that level.”

The Ohio Highway Patrol suspects alcohol is involved in the crash. Gallina said the parents often provide deterrents to that kind of behavior, and he doesn’t want those parents to become disheartened by one negative incident.

“This is where a community can step up,” Gallina said. “We have some wonderful families who do a terrific job to provide alternatives to our students for their social time. I continue to encourage our families to do the great job they are doing.”

UPDATED CONDITIONS

Although all five students were taken to various hospitals that night, three students suffered serious injuries. They were Kristi Morris, 15, of North Canton; Kyle Byelene, 18, of Canton; and Seth M. Noble, 18, of North Canton.

Morris was taken to Aultman Hospital and was later transferred to Akron Children’s Hospital, where she was being treated as of Monday. She has improved from stable to fair condition. Morris, the passenger in the rear middle, had not been wearing a seatbelt.

Byelene, the driver, was taken to Aultman Hospital and had been wearing his seatbelt. An Aultman Hospital spokesperson said Monday that he was in guarded condition.

Patrol officials say Noble, 18, of North Canton, was taken to Mercy Medical Center. He was the right front passenger and had not been wearing a seatbelt. North Canton Patch has not been able to get a condition report for Noble; Mercy officials say they have no record of him being at the hospital.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Canton Post of the Ohio Highway Patrol has not filed any charges but continues to investigate the crash.

Patrol officials said the students were traveling north on Pittsburg Avenue just south of Applegrove Street in a 2002 Acura TL. Byelene tried to pass a car on the right on the two-lane road, taking the car off the right side of the roadway before hitting a mailbox and utility pole.

Also injured were Brandon Lee Miller, 16, of North Canton; and Tyler R. Maloy, 15, of Uniontown. Both were wearing seatbelts and were taken to Aultman Hospital, where they were treated and later released.

The patrol continues to investigate.